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A fouled propeller is one of the quickest ways to lose speed. Barnacles on the blades, slime on the boss and weed on the cone change the shape of the water flow and add resistance. Underwater propeller cleaning in Nagoya is a short job that often pays back faster than anything else you do to the Hull.
The propeller is made of bronze or other copper alloys, which can resist fouling when moving. When the ship stays at berth or anchor, the blades stand still and are soon covered. The warm water of summer speeds this up. The boss and the cone are especially exposed because they are often poorly coated and carry little antifouling protection. Always you can reach us. We are servicing every day
The Diver first looks at the propeller on camera to see how much growth there is. For light slime he uses a soft brush or pad. For hard barnacles he uses a scraper or stiff brush, working carefully along the blade, never across the edge in a way that could cause damage. The leading edge, the trailing edge and the root of each blade get attention, as do the cone, the boss and the shaft end.
Cleaning removes growth. Polishing goes further and works the metal surface to reduce roughness. Many ships need a cleaning at every opportunity and a polish once a year or when the surface is rough. We can do both in the same call. After the cleaning, the Diver tells you whether polishing is worth doing.
Once the growth is gone, the true condition appears: nicks, bent tips, cracks, erosion and loose fittings. A cleaned propeller is much easier to inspect, so we film it afterward and mention any finding in the report. If anything needs the surveyor's attention, we tell the master before the Diver leaves the water.
A single propeller normally takes 1 to 2 hours, more if the fouling is very heavy. The shaft must be locked and the thrusters isolated before the Diver enters the water. We need the ship's name, ETA, berth and Draft. If the ship has a controllable pitch propeller, tell us, because we take care not to force the blades.
You get before-and-after video, photographs and a short report. The record shows the state of the propeller on the day, which is useful for the technical file and for any discussion with the charterer about speed and consumption.
Cleaning is also the moment to look for entanglement. Rope strands, fishing line and plastic bags often wind around the cone and boss, and they can cut into the seal over time. The Diver removes them with hook knives and cutters and films the area afterwards. Controllable pitch propellers are checked for any damage near the hub, where sealed oil could leak if a seal is damaged.
Send the ETA, the berth and the Draft. We confirm the time, the Diver team and the safety steps. Most propeller cleanings can start within a few hours of the ship being secured.
Q1. How long does it take to clean one propeller?
Normally 1 to 2 hours, longer when fouling is very heavy.
Q2. What is the difference between cleaning and polishing?
Cleaning removes marine growth. Polishing works the metal surface to reduce roughness. Both can be done in one call.
Q3. Why does a propeller foul quickly at berth?
When the blades stand still in warm water, organisms settle quickly. The boss and cone are often poorly protected and foul first.
Q4. What is recorded in the report?
Before-and-after video, photographs of each blade, the cone and the boss, and notes on any damage found once the growth is removed.
